Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among biomedical students of Rivers State University

Despite vaccination progress and a return to normalcy, new SARS-CoV-2 variants highlight the ongoing threat and potential for future pandemics. This reemphasizes the importance of studying specific demographics, such as university students, to understand their perceptions and behaviors regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among biomedical science students at Rivers State University. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized, encompassing 220 biomedical science students from March to August 2022. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact tests were conducted using GraphPad Prism 9 software, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Vaccine hesitancy was highly prevalent at 91.8% (95% CI: 87.4–94.8). Significant predictors of vaccine hesitancy included younger age (≤20 years) (RR = 1.088, 95% CI: 1.007–1.189, p = 0.0471), being single (RR = 1.327, 95% CI: 1.036–2.343, p = 0.0385), and employment in non-health-related fields (RR = 1.436, 95% CI: 1.100–2.455, p = 0.0076). The belief in the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccines was significantly associated with decreased vaccine hesitancy (RR = 0.9112, 95% CI: 0.8254–0.9857, p = 0.0265). Additionally, the perception that COVID-19 vaccines will always have adverse effects was also a significant predictor (RR = 1.110, 95% CI: 1.019–1.253, p = 0.0204). This study revealed a concerning prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among biomedical science students, emphasizing the importance of accurate information and targeted interventions to enhance vaccine acceptance within this vital demographic.